About the Festival
The Michigan Shakespeare Festival has been presenting the timeless themes and glorious language of William Shakespeare since 1995, growing each year into a premier regional event that draws respected actors from across the nation, and satisfied audiences from throughout the Midwest.
Whether your tastes run toward the dark intrigue of "Macbeth," the joyful frivolity of "Twelfth Night," or the timeless romance of "Romeo and Juliet," the Michigan Shakespeare Festival brings Shakespeare to life in an accessible and entertaining style.
The Michigan Shakespeare Festival is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing theatrical entertainment to people in Michigan and throughout surrounding states, creating awareness of live theatre, and providing young people the opportunity to get involved in theatre.
Be sure to read this year's welcome message from Artistic Director John Neville-Andrews.
A Brief History
The Michigan Shakespeare Festival began in 1995 as the Jackson Shakespeare Festival and was the final show in the Michigan Theatre Players season. In 1996 an outdoor stage - a replica of an Elizabethan courtyard theatre - was built at Ella Sharp Park, and the Festival doubled its attendance to more than 1,000 people.
An affiliation with the University of Michigan Department of Theatre and Drama in 1997 allowed the Festival to reach a new level of professionalism. In 1998, the event was officially renamed the Michigan Shakespeare Festival, reflecting its new partnership and the regional nature of the event. Equity actors were added to the company in 1999 and the Festival expanded to three weekends.
In 2003, the Michigan Shakespeare Festival was designated as "The Official Shakespeare Festival of the State of Michigan," an honor bestowed by the governor and state Senate. With the 2004 season, the Festival moved indoors to its current location, the Baughman Theater in the George E. Potter Center on the campus of Jackson Community College.
The Michigan Shakespeare Festival's high-quality performances feature local and professional actors, including Equity performers. Affordable ticket prices and a comfortable indoor venue will combine to expand the Festival's already growing reputation and attract even larger audiences from across Michigan and the entire region. This year's Festival promises to be the best-attended in our history.
The Festival is presented in cooperation with the University of Michigan Department of Theatre and Drama and is sponsored in part by Comerica Bank, Delta Consulting LLC, Michigan Automotive Compressor, Inc., Mabel Harris Trust and Consumers Energy.
